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H2020Doctoral network2020–2024

ENTRAIN VISION · European Network for integrated TRAINing on Innovative Therapies for VISion RestoratiON

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2020-04-01 → 2024-09-30
EU contribution
€3,883,755
Participants
11
Scheme
MSCA-ITN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

European Network for integrated TRAINing on Innovative Therapies for VISion RestoratiON

Blindness is the most feared handicap. It is leading to a complete exclusion from society by reducing patient autonomy and mobility. There are still an estimated 285 million vision impaired and 39 million blind people worldwide. Due to population growth and ageing, the number of blind people or visually-impaired people could triple by 2050. Treatments are urgently needed to prevent this aging-related increase in the population of visually impaired patients. This growth is also highly related to our change in lifestyle leading to the epidemics of diabetic retinopathy and myopia. The present ENTRAIN-Vision project aims at preparing Early Stage Researchers who will have a comprehensive view of new therapeutic approaches to vision restoration so that they can take part in future Research and Development, or in their future deployment throughout Europe. During the project, the different ESR have worked on the development of novel innovative technologies for visual restoration at both the retinal and cortical levels.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Blindness is the most feared handicap leading to the greatest exclusion from society by reducing patient autonomy and mobility. There are still an estimated 39 million blind people worldwide. Clinical trials have demonstrated the possibility to regain some useful vision with retinal prostheses in patients having lost photoreceptors. New approaches are entering into clinical trials such as photovoltaic implants, optogenetic therapy and even cortical prostheses for patients having lost eye to brain connection. In the present ENTRAIN-Vision project, the Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) will work on these innovative technologies for restoring vision in blind patients. Their training in academic institutes or industry will be completed by several secondments, including one at an industry partner. In addition, several winter/summer schools will address scientific subjects on vision restoration and transferable skills in technology transfer, clinical trials, start-up creation, communication to media. Lectures will be followed by practice e.g. innovative technologies for assessing brain function. The project will thus create a unique European network of researchers, clinicians and industrials on visual restoration. This network will provide a comprehensive training across multiple disciplines including neuroscience, vision, psychophysics, genetic, electronic, bio-engineering and computational modelling. It will therefore prepare a new generation of leaders able to carry the new therapeutic strategies from bench to patients. ESRs will encounter founders of start-up and industrial partners enlarging thereby job opportunities to 1) remain in the career path of research & innovation, 2) contribute to clinical trials and/or develop the rehabilitation programs or 3) get involved in product manufacture, distribution and marketing throughout Europe. This project will generate great social and economic benefits in Europe by improving patient autonomy and daily life.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • SORBONNE UNIVERSITE · ParisCoordinatorFrance
  • AALTO KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SR · EspooFinland
  • EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGEN · TuebingenGermany
  • ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE · LausanneSwitzerland
  • FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA · GenovaItaly
  • NATURWISSENSCHAFTLICHES UND MEDIZINISCHES INSTITUT AN DER UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGEN · ReutlingenGermany
  • Streetlab · ParisFrance
  • TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN · WienAustria
  • UNIVERSIDAD MIGUEL HERNANDEZ DE ELCHE · ElcheSpain
  • UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE CAROL DAVILA DIN BUCURESTI · BucurestiRomania
  • UNIVERZITA KARLOVA · Praha 1Czechia

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union